Greenville Athletic Boosters is excited to announce that a team of local businessmen have joined forces to replace the recently decommissioned cannon with a new custom designed cannon that will be manufactured locally. The Athletic Boosters Board and members voted during the February meeting to move ahead with this project and for fundraising to begin immediately.

We are inviting interested Businesses, Groups and Individuals to learn more about this exciting project! There have already been numerous hours spent preparing a new cannon design by a team compiled of Mr. Scott Fitzgerald, Mr. Bill Light, Mr. Matt Light, Mr. Hank Steinmetz, and Mr. Larry Garrison. The Athletic Boosters would like to thank these gentlemen for their hard work and community spirit to start this project full force!

According to Scott Fitzgerald, “Bill Light has taken my raw design and turned it into a real gem I think you will agree with me as well. He has already poured hours and hours into this design and I could not be happier!” Scott Fitzgerald, owner of DA Fitzgerald Co will donate the machine and assembly hours with assistance from Larry Garrison for his machining capabilities as well as offering his expertise. Hank Steinmetz will fabricate some wood/iron pieces to give the cannon some vintage touches along with assembly and testing. Matt Light will help spearhead any fundraising ideas and promotional contributions.

The funds raised will cover expenses for the materials, purchased parts, powder coating, paint, wood, and black powder to make this dream a reality. This project will not be cheap but the design will last for at least 50-75 years. The cannon’s overall size will be 8ft long 4 ft tall and 4ft wide; weighing roughly 600lbs when complete.

Fitzgerald continues…”I know many will view this possibly as unnecessary, but for me and several others find the football games without a cannon to lack the “Spirit of Greenville”! Our goal amount will be $8,000 to complete the task. If the project comes in under budget, the remaining funds will be applied to Greenville Athletics Boosters’ Scholarship Program.”

When the cannon is complete and ready to unveil plans will be made with the five largest donors an opportunity to attend a special firing event to shoot the cannon at a private unveiling held at Matt Light’s Chenoweth Trails. This is a once in a lifetime chance to fire the cannon and learn more about the design, machining, assembly, and operation of it! The public cannon dedication will be announced at a later date.

Friends of Harmon Field are a task force of loyal, passionate supporters of Greenville athletics comprised of coaches, school administrators, faculty, alumni, local businesses and industry, and parents who want to recognize the past, honor Greenville traditions, and reconstruct and modernize the Harmon Field Athletic Complex so that it serves generations to come.